THAILAND/SINGAPORE. Travel tech start-up utu has announced a new partnership with Thai Airways which it said will offer more choices and value for travellers eligible for tax refunds.
Singapore-headquartered utu claims that many travellers are currently losing as much as half of the value of their Value-Added Tax (VAT) or Goods & Services Tax (GST) refunds. However, from this month, passengers registered with Thai Airways’ Royal Orchid Plus loyalty programme will receive a +25% uplift in Royal Orchid Plus miles for their tax refunds.
This will apply, utu said, even when the traveller in the loyalty programme flies with an alternative carrier.
Travellers access the uplift by paying as usual for purchases with cash or a payment card, but choosing to receive their VAT or GST refund on the new utu Tax Free Card.
By selecting the ‘upsize via Royal Orchid Plus’ option from the utu Tax Free mobile application, Thai Airways frequent flyers can now upsize their tax refunds on purchases made while travelling and convert them into Royal Orchid Plus miles.
As a special introductory promotion – from now until 31 January 2022 – Royal Orchid Plus members will receive an additional 250 Royal Orchid Plus miles by registering and activating the utu Tax Free Card. The reward is on top of the base miles that they will receive.
Thai Airways Director of Customer & Marketing Department Kittipong Sansomboon said: “Thai Airways remains committed to providing a wide range of benefits to its customers, especially for members of Royal Orchid Plus, Thai’s frequent flyer programme. We have been cooperating with our business partners to provide an innovative array of valuable choices to Royal Orchid Plus members.
“We are delighted to join with utu to create rewards for our frequent flyers through the utu application. We are convinced this impressive tax refund technology will enhance experiences for all our members who love travelling and tax-free shopping as well.”
utu Co-Founder and CEO Asad Jumabhoy said: “Thai Airways is one of the best loved carriers in the world and we are proud to welcome it on our journey to shake up the world of tax-free shopping.
“We are thrilled to enable Royal Orchid Plus members to make the most of their trips so they can take advantage of the utu app for a better deal on tax refunds by supersizing their loyalty rewards.”
The tech company recently partnered with Emirates to launch a tax refund service for its passengers.